A Cocktail Garden

Mint. Basil. Lemon Verbena. Rosemary. Cilantro. Dill. Whether they’re muddled, infused, or simply snipped for a pretty and fragrant garnish, fresh herbs make a wonderful addition to summer cocktails. Add citrus (lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit) and there is no end to what you can create!

A great thing about these herbs is they require very little space in a container, or can be integrated into the garden easily. You might want to double up on a few of these herbs as we know you’ll find some favorites even from our short list.

If there was one ‘go-to’ herb to plant this Summer it would have to be mint. Whether muddled in a Mojito or Mint Julep there are endless combinations using mint and lime. No need to limit your selections to simple spearmint when you can choose from a variety of mint types. We even came upon a clever twist on the Moscow Mule – ‘The Gin-Gin Mule’ uses Gin and Mint. Check out the recipe here – http://www.saveur.com/article/recipes/gin-gin-mule-cocktail

The same can be said of basil – Italian, Bush, Purple Opal, Cinnamon, Lemon Basil … While we might not have every variety under the sun, we do carry a few staples that will get you started. Basil pairs nicely with lime, melons and plays nicely with any of the ‘white’ spirits – Gin, Vodka, Rum and Tequila. Check out this blog post for more basil based drink recipes: http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2013/07/fresh-basil-cocktails-for-summer-easy-drink-recipes.html

Want to put a drink to put you into a more mellow mood? Try drinks made with Lemon Verbena. We found this simple recipe for a Lemon Verbena Gimlet – http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/lemon-verbena-gimlet-cocktails 

Of course all of these drinks can be made without alcohol. Many of these recipes make for refreshing Summer drinks anyone can enjoy.

Have any recipes you care to share? Contact us with a recipe and photo and we’ll be happy to share.